Math · Stage 5

Recognise 3D shapes and their nets

Every solid has flat faces, straight edges and pointy vertices — or a smooth curved surface. Count them to name a solid, and unfold it into its net to see the exact faces that fold back up.

✦ Math📘 Stage 5 · S5⏱ ~12 min🧒 Ages 9–10★ Free to start

I can recognise 3D shapes and their nets.

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Kavi Builds a Shape Zoo 🧊

Kavi stacks wooden blocks, balances a tin can, and rolls a ball across the branch. "Look!" hoots Kavi. "Every 3D shape has flat faces, straight edges where two faces meet, and vertices — the pointy corners. Some shapes, like my ball, have a smooth curved surface instead. Count the faces, edges and vertices to name any solid — and unfold it flat into its net to see exactly which faces fold back up!"

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What your child will learn

1Faces, edges and verticesA 3D solid is named by its features. A face is a flat surface, an edge is the straight line where two faces meet, and a vertex is a corner where edges meet (plural: vertices). Some solids have a curved surface instead. Tap each solid to count its faces, edges and vertices.

2Which solid does each net fold into?

3Count the features, then check the netTo recognise a 3D shape use two checks together. Tap each card to see how.

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A peek inside

Kavi finds a solid with 6 faces, 12 edges and 8 vertices, and every face is an equal square. Name it.

6 equal square faces + 12 edges + 8 vertices → a cube

Try this at home: How many faces, edges and vertices does a cube have?

Ready to play and learn?

Start the free interactive lesson, or print the handout for screen-free play.

Start the free lesson →⬇ Download PDF

Part of Math · Stage 5 · S5 on KAVI Academy — a secular, whole-child learning platform for ages 5–12.